diff --git a/redbot/launcher.py b/redbot/launcher.py
index 0b0a4116f..38080a516 100644
--- a/redbot/launcher.py
+++ b/redbot/launcher.py
@@ -447,6 +447,7 @@ def main_menu():
 
 
 def main():
+    args, flags_to_pass = parse_cli_args()
     if not PYTHON_OK:
         print(
             f"Python {'.'.join(map(str, MIN_PYTHON_VERSION))} is required to run Red, but you "
@@ -473,8 +474,6 @@ def main():
         run_red(args.instancename, autorestart=args.auto_restart, cliflags=flags_to_pass)
 
 
-args, flags_to_pass = parse_cli_args()
-
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     try:
         main()
diff --git a/redbot/setup.py b/redbot/setup.py
index ed9bf7eba..d34bb8035 100644
--- a/redbot/setup.py
+++ b/redbot/setup.py
@@ -371,6 +371,7 @@ async def remove_instance_interaction():
 
 
 def main():
+    args, _ = parse_cli_args()
     if args.delete:
         loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
         loop.run_until_complete(remove_instance_interaction())
@@ -381,8 +382,6 @@ def main():
         basic_setup()
 
 
-args, _ = parse_cli_args()
-
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     try:
         main()